The Leader is probably shaking in his boots this morning at the likelihood I will request an amendment to the Order of Business. I wish to withdraw my intention to seek an amendment. I thank Senator Aideen Hayden who approached me yesterday and advised me of a report on private rental property that was soon to come out. As the Senator has the same concerns as me, I am very happy to withdraw my intention to seek an amendment to the Order of Business.

With respect to the European Central Bank and the banking inquiry, I can only liken the ECB to the Vikings who came here, pillaged all we had and then left us to clean up the mess. How dare they turn around and say they will not come here and answer questions, having put this tiny little country to the pin of its collar to save the euro? If they will not answer questions, we should not pay our loans or anything we owe them.

With respect to the Water Services Bill, I remind the Leader that I indicated yesterday that if the Bill was to be brought before the House tomorrow with a view to having it finished before Christmas, I would propose an amendment the Order of Business and I believe there are others who would support it. It is wrong to try and rush this serious legislation through. I do not care what impact it has. The Government can decide at the stroke of a pen to delay this at any stage. It is wrong in every way to try and rush this through either House. I am putting the Leader on notice that I will propose an amendment to the Order of Business tomorrow. This is a chance for the independent Senators to show that the Seanad is independent. It may be time to teach Ministers that they should have some respect for the Members of this House.

I thank Senator Gerard P. Craughwell for withdrawing his intention to propose an amendment to the Order of Business. I very much look forward to having that debate on rent regulation in the new year, after the publication of the National Economic and Social Council's report. Yesterday, I launched Threshold's annual report as Chairperson of that organisation. The report clearly shows that the current lack of strategy for the rental sector makes it not fit for purpose. Approximately 20% of Irish people now live in rented accommodation and that number will increase in the future. There are too many loopholes in the current legislation allowing for people to be economically evicted. The legislation does not allow for reasonable rent increases and does not allow tenants to make their homes in the rented sector. We cannot ask people to make their homes in the rented sector with a regulatory system that just is not fit for purpose. In the new year, together with our debate on regulation I would like to see a wider debate on strategy for the private rented sector.

Regarding the European Central Bank's decision not to participate in the banking inquiry, I share the disappointment of everybody in this Chamber. It is easy to conclude that this country is indeed being given the two fingers. The matter came up at the finance committee and the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Patrick Honohan, indicated that he would make a full and frank disclosure to the committee, to the point where he believed they would not be left lacking any information and would not be in a negative position because of the failure of ECB representatives to appear. I hope I am paraphrasing him correctly. I have found Mr. Honohan to be an honest and very forthright person in the past and look forward to his evidence to the banking inquiry. I wish the inquiry every success.